The Most Difficult Vault in Gymnastics, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the vault you think is the most difficult!
Updated on May 7, 2024 06:26
Gymnastics is a sport that marries grace with strength, and nowhere is this more evident than in the execution of a vault. Each vault combines speed, power, and precision, and the degree of difficulty can greatly vary from one to the next. By ranking these challenges, we can better appreciate the nuances that set apart the simpler maneuvers from the most technically demanding ones.
A dynamic ranking based on user votes helps to capture real-time opinions and shines a light on community preferences. This interactive process allows fans and practitioners alike to voice their opinions, contributing to a continually updated list that reflects the most respected and challenging vaults as seen through the eyes of the gymnastics community.
What Is the Most Difficult Vault in Gymnastics?
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160votesThe Produnova vault, also known as the "vault of death," is considered the most difficult and dangerous vault in gymnastics. It requires two front handsprings onto the vault table and a double front flip in the air. It has only been successfully completed by a few gymnasts due to the high risk of injury.The Produnova, also known as the 2.5-twisting Yurchenko vault, is one of the most difficult and dangerous gymnastics moves. It involves a round-off entry onto the vault, followed by two and a half backward salto rotations in a piked position, ending with a blind landing.
- Difficulty Level: H
- Rotation: 2.5 twists
- Starting Position: Round-off entry
- Body Position: Piked
- Landing: Blind
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228votes
Yurchenko Double Pike
Natalia YurchenkoThe Yurchenko Double Pike vault requires a roundoff onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vault table, and a double backflip in the air with a piked body position. It is considered one of the most difficult vaults due to the level of difficulty and precision required.The Yurchenko Double Pike is a challenging and advanced gymnastics vaulting move that involves executing a roundoff onto the springboard, followed by a back handspring onto the vault table, and then performing a double backflip with a pike position in the air before landing.- Difficulty: Very difficult
- Orientation: Backward
- Rotation: Double backflip
- Position: Pike position
- Execution: Roundoff onto springboard, back handspring onto vault table, double pike backflip
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325votesThe Cheng vault is named after Chinese gymnast Cheng Fei, who popularized the vault. It requires a roundoff onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vault table, and a half-twist onto the vaulting table, followed by a front handspring onto the floor with a 1.5 twist. It is considered one of the most difficult vaults due to the high level of precision and power required.The Cheng is a vault in gymnastics that is widely recognized as one of the most difficult vaults performed by female gymnasts. It is known for its high level of complexity and risk.
- Type: Vault
- Difficulty: Very high
- Twists: 1.5 (one and a half)
- Somersaults: 1 (single)
- Entry: Round-off
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426votesThe Amanar vault is named after Romanian gymnast Simona Amanar, who first performed it at the 2000 Olympic Games. It requires a roundoff onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vault table, and a 2.5 twist in the air before landing. It is considered one of the most difficult vaults due to the high level of power and precision required.The Amanar is a highly difficult vault in artistic gymnastics that is performed on the vaulting table. It involves a roundoff onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vaulting table, and a 2.5 twisting somersault in the air before landing.
- Start Value: 6.3
- Approach: Roundoff onto springboard
- Entry onto the vaulting table: Back handspring
- Number of twists: 2.5
- Number of somersaults: 1
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529votes
Tsukahara Double Back
Mitsuo TsukaharaThe Tsukahara Double Back vault requires a roundoff onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vault table, and a double backflip in the air. It is considered one of the most difficult vaults due to the high level of precision and timing required.The Tsukahara Double Back is a difficult vault in gymnastics that requires immense strength, technique, and precision. It is considered one of the most challenging vaults performed by gymnasts. The vault involves performing a back handspring onto the vaulting table followed by two backward somersaults in a stretched position, and concludes with a landing on the feet.- Scoring Potential: High score if executed flawlessly
- Level of Difficulty: Very advanced
- Gymnastics Apparatus: Vault
- Number of Somersaults: 2
- Direction of Rotation: Backward
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617votesThe Dragulescu vault is named after Romanian gymnast Marian Dragulescu, who popularized the vault. It requires a roundoff onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vault table, and a half-twist onto the vaulting table, followed by a front handspring onto the floor with a double front flip in the air. It is considered one of the most difficult vaults due to the high level of power and precision required.The Dragulescu is a difficult vault in gymnastics that involves performing two twists and two somersaults in the air before landing. It is considered one of the most challenging vaults due to its high degrees of difficulty and technical execution.
- Type: Vault
- Difficulty: 6.0 - 6.4
- Execution: Complex and precise
- Twists: 2
- Somersaults: 2
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710votesThe Handspring Double Front vault requires a roundoff onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vault table, and a double front flip in the air. It is considered one of the most difficult vaults due to the high level of power and precision required.The Handspring Double Front is one of the most difficult vaults in gymnastics. It involves performing a handspring onto the vault table followed by two front flips in a tucked position before landing on the mat. The gymnast must generate significant speed, power, and height to successfully execute this skill.
- Difficulty Level: Extremely Difficult
- Number of Flips: 2
- Body Position: Tucked
- Entry: Handspring onto the vault table
- Landing: On the mat
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813votes
Handspring Rudi
Vladimir ArtemovThe Handspring Rudi vault requires a roundoff onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vault table, and a half-twist onto the vaulting table, followed by a front handspring onto the floor with a 1.5 twist. It is considered one of the most difficult vaults due to the high level of precision and timing required.The Handspring Rudi is a vault in gymnastics that involves a roundoff entry followed by a handspring onto the vaulting table and then a 1.5 twisting layout somersault off the table. It is considered one of the most difficult and visually impressive vaults in the sport.- Difficulty Level: Very Difficult (assigned a Difficulty Value of 6.3)
- Roundoff Entry: A backward cartwheel with a full twist before pushing off the ground onto the handspring
- Handspring: A forward handspring performed onto the vaulting table
- Twists: 1.5 twisting layout somersault off the vaulting table
- Direction: Performed in a forward direction
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95votes
Tsukahara Full
Mitsuo TsukaharaThe Tsukahara Full vault requires a roundoff onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vault table, and a full twist in the air before landing. It is considered one of the most difficult vaults due to the high level of precision and timing required.The Tsukahara Full is a difficult vault in gymnastics that involves a full-twisting backflip off the vaulting table. It is named after its creator, Mitsuo Tsukahara, a Japanese gymnast who first performed it in competition.- Difficulty Level: Very Difficult
- Twisting Action: Full Twist (360 degrees)
- Takeoff: Forward-facing
- Flight Phase: Backflip
- Landing: Feet first
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108votes
Yurchenko Double Full
Natalia YurchenkoThe Yurchenko Double Full vault requires a roundoff onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vault table, and a double twist in the air before landing. It is considered one of the most difficult vaults due to the high level of precision and timing required.The Yurchenko Double Full is a difficult vault in gymnastics that combines a roundoff entry with two full twists in a stretched position before landing. It is an extremely complex and visually impressive move that requires exceptional technique, power, and body control.- Difficulty: H
- Entry: Roundoff
- Twists: 2
- Body Position: Stretched
- Landing: Feet first
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Discussion
Ranking factors for difficult vault
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Difficulty ValueThe difficulty value of a vault is determined by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and is based on the complexity of skills, movements, and connections in the vault. A higher difficulty value indicates a more challenging vault.
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ExecutionThe precision and technique exhibited by the gymnast during the performance of the vault, including body position, alignment, and form, play a significant role in determining the difficulty of the vault. Poor execution can make an otherwise relatively easy vault more challenging for a gymnast.
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AmplitudeThe height and distance covered by the gymnast during the vault are important factors in determining the difficulty. A more complicated vault typically requires greater amplitude for successful completion, making it more challenging for gymnasts.
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LandingThe ability to land the vault cleanly and securely is crucial in determining the difficulty of the vault. For a vault to be considered more difficult, it must require a higher degree of control and stability upon landing.
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ConsistencyThe ability to perform the vault consistently at a high level is also an important factor. A more challenging vault might be more difficult to execute successfully and consistently, increasing the overall difficulty.
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Risk FactorThe potential for injury or error during the performance of the vault is another key aspect to consider. A high-risk vault, with a greater chance of injury or significant mistakes, is often considered more difficult.
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Innovation and UniquenessThe novelty and creativity of the vault also play a role in assessing its difficulty. Unusual or innovative elements in a vault can increase its complexity and challenge for the gymnast.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult vault in gymnastics. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or vault is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 3534 views
- 219 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each vault once every 24 hours. The rank of each vault is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
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More information on most difficult vault in gymnastics
Gymnastics is an incredibly challenging sport that requires both physical strength and mental focus. One of the most exciting events in gymnastics is the vault, where athletes must run at full speed towards a springboard and launch themselves into the air to perform a series of flips and twists before landing on the other side.
Of all the vaults in gymnastics, there is one that stands out as the most difficult: the Produnova. This vault, also known as the "vault of death," was first performed by Russian gymnast Yelena Produnova in 1999. It involves a front handspring onto the springboard, followed by two front somersaults in a pike position before landing on the mat.
The Produnova is considered one of the most dangerous vaults in gymnastics, with a high risk of injury if not executed perfectly. It requires incredible speed, strength, and precision, and only a handful of gymnasts have ever attempted it in competition. Despite its difficulty, the Produnova remains a thrilling and awe-inspiring feat of athleticism for both gymnasts and spectators alike.
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